Acoustic Assembly

Abstract

An acoustic assembly includes a plurality of first slats and at least one second slat couplable with each one of the first slats for intersecting with each first slat. Each slat is preferably made from a substrate of a rigid or a semi-rigid material and has oppositely disposed second end portions. An engagement portion is coupled with each first and second end portion for resting atop at least one architectural element for supporting the acoustic assembly. The assembly may include a shear portion and a catch portion for providing a locking mechanism for further securing the first slats with the second slats. When the acoustic canopy is supported from the first and second end portions, the slats may sag to compress open-ended slots of the second slats for pinching the corresponding ones of the first slats received within the open-ended slots.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An acoustic assembly comprising:
 a plurality of first slats of acoustic material, each first slat having oppositely disposed first end portions;   at least one second slat of acoustic material couplable with each one of the plurality of first slats for intersecting with each of the first slats, each second slat having oppositely disposed second end portions; and,   an engagement portion coupled with each first end portion and each second end portion for resting atop at least one architectural element for supporting the acoustic assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of first slats are parallel relative one another.   
     
     
         3 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one of the plurality of first slats and the at least one second slat are fabricated from an acoustic substrate of one of a rigid material and a semi-rigid material.   
     
     
         4 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of second slats.   
     
     
         5 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the plurality of second slats are parallel relative one another.   
     
     
         6 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the acoustic assembly is an acoustic canopy assembly; and,   the at least one second slat is couplable with each one of the plurality of first slats for intersecting with each of the first slats from beneath each of the first slats.   
     
     
         7 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the acoustic assembly at least one of absorbs, diffuses and directs sound.   
     
     
         8 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each engagement portion further comprises a supporting tab for extending onto the at least one architectural element for supporting the acoustic assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the first slats and each of the second slats each have a distinct profile defined by at least one of a respective arbitrary curve, an evolving radius, a linear form and a curvilinear form; and,   wherein the first slats and the second slats collectively provide the acoustic assembly with at least one undulation when the at least one second slat is intersected with the plurality of first slats.   
     
     
         10 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the at least one undulation includes at least one of a depression, a planar zone and a bulge.   
     
     
         11 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the first slats has a first profile defined by at least one of a first respective arbitrary curve, a first evolving radius, a first linear form and a first curvilinear form;   each of the second slats has a second profile defined by at least one of a second respective arbitrary curve, a second evolving radius, a second linear form and a second curvilinear form;   wherein the first slats collectively provide the acoustic assembly with a first undulation when the at least one second slat is intersected with the plurality of first slats, the first undulation visible from a first perspective; and,   wherein each of the second slats collectively provide the acoustic assembly with a second undulation when the at least one second slat is intersected with the plurality of first slats, the second undulation coincident with the first undulation and visible from a second perspective different from the first perspective.   
     
     
         12 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one support slat for providing at least one of structural and load-bearing support to the acoustic assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the acoustic assembly is a free-standing structure.   
     
     
         14 . An acoustic assembly comprising:
 a plurality of first slats of an acoustic substrate of one of a rigid material and a semi-rigid material;   at least one second slat of the acoustic substrate couplable with each one of the plurality of first slats for intersecting with each of the first slats;   at least one first aperture passing through each first slat;   a plurality of second apertures passing through the at least one second slat and longitudinally spaced apart along the at least one second slat, the plurality of second apertures corresponding in number with the plurality of first slats;   a shear portion adjacent one of the at least one first aperture and each second aperture of the plurality of second apertures, the shear portion having a slit passing therethrough to the one of the at least one first aperture and each second aperture of the plurality of second apertures for selectively opening and closing the one of the at least one first aperture and each second aperture of the plurality of second apertures; and,   a catch portion adjacent an other one of the at least one first aperture and each second aperture of the plurality of second apertures; wherein,   when the one of the at least one first aperture and each second aperture of the plurality of second apertures is selectively open, the catch portion is receivable within the one of the at least one first aperture and each second aperture of the plurality of second apertures; and,   when the one of the at least one first aperture and each second aperture of the plurality of second apertures is selectively closed, the catch portion is removably securable within the one of the at least one first aperture and each second aperture of the plurality of second apertures and the shear portion is removably securable within the other one of the at least one first aperture and each second aperture of the plurality of second apertures.   
     
     
         15 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the plurality of first slats are parallel relative one another.   
     
     
         16 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a plurality of second slats.   
     
     
         17 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the plurality of second slats are parallel relative one another.   
     
     
         18 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the acoustic assembly is an acoustic canopy assembly; and,   the at least one second slat is couplable with each one of the plurality of first slats for intersecting with each of the first slats from beneath each of the first slats.   
     
     
         19 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the acoustic assembly at least one of absorbs, diffuses and directs sound.   
     
     
         20 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 open-ended slots extending partially across each of the first slats and each of the second slats wherein each open-ended slot extends towards a respective one of the first apertures and second apertures wherein one of the shear portion and the catch portion is located between the open-ended slot and the respective one of the first apertures and second apertures.   
     
     
         21 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the shear portion is adjacent each first slat and the catch portion is adjacent each second slat.   
     
     
         22 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 14 , wherein:
 each of the first slats and each of the second slats has a distinct profile defined by at least one of a respective arbitrary curve, an evolving radius, a linear form and a curvilinear form; and,   wherein the first slats and the at least one second slat collectively provide the acoustic assembly with at least one undulation when the at least one second slat is intersected with the plurality of first slats.   
     
     
         23 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 14 , wherein:
 each of the first slats has a first profile defined by at least one of a first respective arbitrary curve, a first evolving radius, a first linear form and a first curvilinear form;   each of the second slats has a second profile defined by at least one of a second respective arbitrary curve, a second evolving radius, a second linear form and a second curvilinear form;   wherein the first slats collectively provide the acoustic assembly with a first undulation when the at least one second slat is intersected with the plurality of first slats, the first undulation visible from a first perspective; and,   wherein the second slats collectively provide the acoustic assembly with a second undulation when the at least one second slat is intersected with the plurality of first slats, the second undulation coincident with the first undulation and visible from a second perspective different from the first perspective.   
     
     
         24 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the at least one undulation includes at least one of a depression, a planar zone and a bulge.   
     
     
         25 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the slit bisects the shear portion.   
     
     
         26 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 at least one support slat for providing at least one of structural and load-bearing support to the acoustic assembly.   
     
     
         27 . An acoustic canopy assembly comprising:
 a plurality of first slats of an acoustic substrate of one of a rigid and a semi-rigid material, each first slat having opposed first end portions and a first open-ended slot extending partially across each first slat;   at least one second slat of the acoustic substrate, each second slat having opposed second end portions and a plurality of second open-ended slots extending partially across the at least one second slat, the plurality of second open-ended slots cooperable with corresponding ones of the first open-ended slots for receiving a corresponding one of the first slats within each second open-ended slot for intersecting each of the first slats from beneath the first slats; and,   wherein when the acoustic canopy is supported from the first and second end portions, the acoustic substrate of the at least one second slat sags to compress the second open-ended slots for pinching the corresponding ones of the first slats within the second slots.   
     
     
         28 . The acoustic canopy assembly of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the plurality of first slats are parallel relative one another.   
     
     
         29 . The acoustic canopy assembly of  claim 27 , wherein:
 each second slat includes a top portion extending longitudinally therealong and a bottom portion extending longitudinally therealong; and,   wherein when the at least one second slat sags, the top portion is under compression and the bottom portion is under tension.   
     
     
         30 . The acoustic canopy assembly of  claim 29 , wherein:
 when the top portion is under compression, the second open-ended slot is narrowed for pinching the corresponding one of the first slats within the second open-ended slot.   
     
     
         31 . The acoustic canopy assembly of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 a plurality of second slats.   
     
     
         32 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the plurality of second slats are parallel relative one another.   
     
     
         33 . The acoustic canopy assembly of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the acoustic assembly is an acoustic canopy assembly; and,   the at least one second slat is couplable with each one of the plurality of first slats for intersecting with each of the first slats from beneath each of the first slats.   
     
     
         34 . The acoustic canopy assembly of  claim 27 , wherein:
 the acoustic assembly at least one of absorbs, diffuses and directs sound.   
     
     
         35 . The acoustic canopy assembly of  claim 27 , wherein:
 each of the first slats and each of the second slats has a distinct profile defined by at least one of a respective arbitrary curve, an evolving radius, a linear form and a curvilinear form; and,   wherein the first slats and the second slats collectively provide the acoustic assembly with at least one undulation when the at least one second slat is intersected with the plurality of first slats.   
     
     
         36 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 27 , wherein:
 each of the first slats has a first profile defined by at least one of a first respective arbitrary curve, a first evolving radius, a first linear form and a first curvilinear form;   each of the second slats has a second profile defined by at least one of a second respective arbitrary curve, a second evolving radius, a second linear form and a second curvilinear form;   wherein the first slats collectively provide the acoustic assembly with a first undulation when the at least one second slat is intersected with the plurality of first slats, the first undulation visible from a first perspective; and,   wherein the second slats collectively provide the acoustic assembly with a second undulation when the at least one second slat is intersected with the plurality of first slats, the second undulation coincident with the first undulation and visible from a second perspective different from the first perspective.   
     
     
         37 . The acoustic canopy assembly of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the at least one undulation includes at least one of a depression, a planar zone and a bulge.   
     
     
         38 . The acoustic assembly of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 at least one support slat for providing at least one of structural and load-bearing support to the acoustic assembly.